Astoria Police Arrest Suspect in Credit Card Scam Police Looking for Additional Victims

On November 10^th, 2013 Astoria Police had been called by T&C home furniture about suspicious charges by Matthew Dunn, Age 28 who had purchased a laptop then returned to purchase more but when asked about the cards he was using became evasive and left. Dunn had photo ID from California and the cards bore his name. While the charges had gone through, the managers at T&C reported it because it caused them to be suspicious. Those suspicions turned out to be well founded.

On November 14, 2013 at 2:48 PM Astoria Police received a call from the Cannery Pier Hotel. They learned that a subject who identified himself as Matthew Dunn, age 28, had been staying there. After his check out, they learned that the prepaid charge cards that he used were returned as fraudulent. They also learned that there was a woman who was staying with him who had signed a charge at the spa and had to cross out her name and sign another name.


Dunn had checked out several days earlier but police learned that he had been picked up by cab. They learned where he had been dropped off, and that he paid with prepaid debit cards. Dunn, who was later identified as Bradley Stay, age 34 of Fresno California, had been dropped off in Seaside at the Inn of the Four Winds. Astoria Police contacted Seaside Police who learned that while Stay was there, registered as Dunn, he was out at the moment. He had registered with prepaid debit cards. Seaside PD watched the department while Astoria PD responded to the area.

Astoria Police investigating the identification learned that the ID that had been used belonging to Matthew Dunn was a forgery. The number was not valid and height weight and the photo were not that of Matthew Dunn. Matthew Dunn had reported identity theft in August 2013 to the Fresno Police Department.

Stay returned to the hotel and was arrested by Astoria Police. When he returned in a cab he had several hundred dollars worth of merchandise from the factory outlet stores. They recovered from the room several credit card blanks, a credit card machine, and merchandise purchased in Astoria and Seaside. Based on statements from Dunn it is believed that there are many unreported victims.

Astoria Police are looking for additional victims. Anyone who took these cards will have had to key in the number of the card and will likely be getting return notices from their credit card processors. Victims in Astoria should contact Astoria Police Detective Sergeant Eric Halverson at 503.325.4411 or ehalverson@astoria.or.us. Victims who are located in other jurisdictions should report the matter to their local law enforcement agency but ask them to contact Astoria Police.

Stay was book in the Clatsop County Jail on charges of Identity Theft, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Forgery I, Forgery II, Criminal Possession of a forged Instrument I, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument II, and Criminal Possession of a Forging Device. Additional counts and charges are expected to be added as the investigation continues. Astoria Police Detective Sergeant Eric Halverson said, “It is likely there will be many additional charges as we get totals and locate additional victims. The losses are clearly in the thousands of dollars.

Stay was accompanied by Cherice McMillian, a 34 year old from Clovis CA. She was not arrested at the time because of medical issues that she was suffering at the time of the incident. She is expected to be charged with crimes at a later date.